Education

B.S., Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla), 2003.
M.S., Rangeland Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, 2006.
Ph.D., Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, 2012.
 

Dirac Twidwell is a Professor and Rangeland Ecologist at the University of Nebraska. His work emphasizes how grasslands contribute to human well-being, and how simple ecological transitions away from grasslands are leading to increased wildfire disasters, losses in livestock production and rancher income, declines in grassland-dependent wildlife, and negative impacts to social programs – like loss of revenue for public education. His program focuses on partnering with landowner networks across multiple states in the Great Plains to advance solutions to the most challenging issues in rangelands. For more details on specific projects in the lab and for bios of current students and lab alumni, please visit the Twidwell Research Lab page.

Dr. Twidwell also serves in unique roles to facilitate science adoption into regional and national grassland conservation efforts. He serves as a National Science Advisor for the USDA NRCS and Working Lands for Wildlife, a Science Expert for the Central Grasslands Roadmap, and an Advisory Board Member of the Great Plains Fire Science Exchange. Please visit the following links to learn more about products developed from those partnerships:

•    NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife - https://www.wlfw.org/
•    Central Grasslands Roadmap - https://www.grasslandsroadmap.org/
•    Great Plains Fire Science Exchange - https://gpfirescience.org/

Recognition

• 2023 Guardian of the Grasslands. USDA NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife
• 2022 Grasslands Education Award. US Forest Service
• 2022 Fire Ignitor Award. Nebraska Prescribed Fire Council
• 2020 Nebraska Range & Conservation Award. Nebraska Cattlemen
• 2019 Omtvedt Innovation Award for Teaching. University of Nebraska
• 2016 Junior Faculty Excellence (Research Award). Institute of Agricutlture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska
• 2016 Outstanding Young Range Professional. Society for Range Management (SRM)
• 2011 Excellence in Rangeland Research Award. Ecological Society of America (ESA), Rangeland Section

Publications

Google Scholar

Selected from 132 publications

• Scholtz, R. and Twidwell, D., 2022. The last continuous grasslands on Earth: Identification and conservation importance. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(3), p.e626.
• Morford, S.L., Allred, B.W., Twidwell, D., Jones, M.O., Maestas, J.D., Roberts, C.P. and Naugle, D.E., 2022. Herbaceous production lost to tree encroachment in United States rangelands. Journal of Applied Ecology, 59(12), pp.2971-2982.
• Donovan, V.M., Wonkka, C.L. and Twidwell, D., 2017. Surging wildfire activity in a grassland biome. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(12), pp.5986-5993.
• Allred, B.W., Smith, W.K., Twidwell, D., Haggerty, J.H., Running, S.W., Naugle, D.E. and Fuhlendorf, S.D., 2015. Ecosystem services lost to oil and gas in North America. Science, 348(6233), pp.401-402.
• Twidwell, D., Rogers, W.E., Fuhlendorf, S.D., Wonkka, C.L., Engle, D.M., Weir, J.R., Kreuter, U.P. and Taylor Jr, C.A., 2013. The rising Great Plains fire campaign: citizens' response to woody plant encroachment. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(s1), pp.e64-e71.

Patents

• Detweiler, C., Elbaum, S. G., Allen, C., Higgins, J., Laney, C., Twidwell, D. 2021. US Patent # 11045672: Fire suppression and ignition with unmanned aerial vehicles. Application #: 17360027, United States.